Punk rock came roaring to life in a cramped, dingy bar on New York City’s Lower East Side called CBGB at 315 Bowery. More known for its filthy bathrooms than its drinks or food—legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen said with a laugh, “It was not a place you’d eat at.”—it is significant for its oversized influence on rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s the punk rock Cavern Club, a launching pad for new genres of music that still reverberate today. Punk scene likely would have happened without CBGB, but the grungy little club gave it a homebase.
In this podcast I’ll talk about the unruly story of an accidental cultural incubator born out of a unique moment in history where outsiders, like The Ramones, The Dead Boys, Talking Heads and Blonde, were brought together, celebrated and encouraged to be themselves.
Joining me to tell the story of CBGB are photographer Boib gruen, filmmaker, co-founder of “Punk” magazine and CBGBite Mary Harron, The ‘B’ Girls singer Lucasta Ross and The Punk Rock Museum co-founder Lisa Brownlee. Topping it off is an interview from the vault I did with CBGB’s owner Hilly Kristal in 1992.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show, the Classic Rock Special! It’s August, and for many people the soundtrack to the late summer is classic rock, so I thought I’d take a trip through the vault and give some of my favorite interviews with classic rockers another spin.
We’ll meet Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson who talk about the early days of the band and finding success in Japan. Ace Frehley, the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of KISS stops by to talk about working with his former band, his new music and why he doesn’t approve of all of the KISS merchandise that features his image. Liberty DeVitto, author of the memoir Liberty: “Life, Billy and the Pursuit of Happiness” talks about the thirty years he spent playing drums for Billy Joel. We talk about how they met and get some inside scoop. For instance, did you know Only the Good Die Young was written as a reggae song? Finally, we meet John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
Listen to the whole thing HERE! (Link coming soon)
Here’s some info on The Richard Crouse Show!
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
Listen to the show live here:
C-FAX 1070 in Victoria
SAT 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
SUN 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
CJAD in Montreal
SAT 8 PM to 9:00 PM
CFRA in Ottawa
SAT 8 PM to 9:00 PM
NEWSTALK 610 CKTB in St. Catharines
Sat 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
NEWSTALK 1010 in Toronto
SAT 8 PM to 9:00 PM
NEWSTALK 1290 CJBK
SAT 8 PM to 9:00 PM
AM 1150 in Kelowna
SAT 11 PM to Midnight
BNN BLOOMBERG RADIO 1410
SAT 8 PM to 9:00 PM
Click HERE to catch up on shows you might have missed!
On the April 12, 2020 edition of the Richard Crouse Show: Three of Richard’s favourite interviews from the most recent season of “Pop Life.”
Harry Connick Jr., a musician who first performed in public when he was just five years old and is still making music, most recently releasing an album of interpretations of classic standards called “True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter.” Connick Jr stops by the Pop Life bar to talks about his earliest musical memories, the massive success of his When Harry Met Sally soundtrack, how he narrowed down Cole Porter’s library of hundreds of songs to the 13 that appear on the record and more!
The multi-Gold and Platinum-selling Bif Naked. She has been called a Punk Princess, Rock Goddess, and Legend… she’s all that and more. Add to the list, Cancer Survivor, Mentor and Entrepreneur. With a new tour, a new record and her own CBD brand, Bif is busier than ever. She found time to stop by the Pop Life bar to talk about the record that made her take up music over medicine, how her cancer diagnosis changed her and taking risks.
John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Ethan Hawke, director Brad Bird, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Eric Roberts, Brian Henson, Jonathan Goldsmith a.k.a. “The most interesting man in the world,” and best selling author Linwood Barclay.
Click HERE to catch up on shows you might have missed!
On April 11 we have an encore presentation of “Pop Life” with an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols. Then the “Pop Life” panel, Canada’s most renowned celebrity photographer George Pimentel, photojournalist Richard Lautens and artistic content creator and photographer Elie Jonathan Kimbembe, discuss how to get the perfect shot.
Watch this episode HERE or catch up on any shows you may have missed HERE!
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
This week on The Richard Crouse Show: Indie superstars Tegan and Sara. They stop by the “Pop Life” bar to discuss their new memoir “High School.” They talk about how music became the perfect fit for them. They tell stories about writing their first song, ‘Tegan Didn’t Go to School Today,” the important people in their lives and how music became a replacement for drugs and alcohol.
The cast of “Frozen 2,” Josh Gad who plays the snowman, and Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, as sisters Princess Anna of Arendelle and Queen Elsa of Arendelle. They talk about keeping the plot secret during the three year production and why the original film resonated with audiences.
Shania Twain, “Queen of Country Pop,” opens up about going back to Las Vegas and her crippling battle with stage fright.
Then an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Ethan Hawke, director Brad Bird, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Eric Roberts, Brian Henson, Jonathan Goldsmith a.k.a. “The most interesting man in the world,” and best selling author Linwood Barclay.
Click HERE to catch up on shows you might have missed!
The third episode of season five of “Pop Life,” features an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen. The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols. Then the “Pop Life” panel, Canada’s most renowned celebrity photographer George Pimentel, photojournalist Richard Lautens and artistic content creator and photographer Elie Jonathan Kimbembe, discuss how to get the perfect shot.
Watch this episode HERE or catch up on any shows you may have missed HERE!
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s all-new talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
On the third episode of season 5 the “Pop Life” panel, Canada’s most renowned celebrity photographer George Pimentel, photojournalist Richard Lautens and artistic content creator and photographer Elie Jonathan Kimbembe, discuss how to get the perfect shot.
Watch this episode or catch up on any you may have missed HERE!
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s all-new talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
The third episode of season five of “Pop Life,” featuring an in-depth interview with John Lennon’s personal photographer Bob Gruen, airs Saturday October 5, 2019 (8:30 pm on CTV NewsChannel, midnight on CTV). The legendary photographer opens up about taking famous pictures of every rock ‘n roll star from David Bowie and Led Zeppelin to The Clash and The Sex Pistols.
On the famous photo of John Lennon flashing a peace sign at the Statue of Liberty: “This photo of John at the Statue of Liberty I think is one of my most important. We actually started talking about it in October, because the US government was trying to throw John out of the country. I think that his crime was that he talked about peace and the time of war and President Nixon was very afraid that he was going to galvanize support for peace in a time of war. I thought that Statue of Liberty was a symbol of welcome to America, and if John was out there by the statue it would be a statement that we should be welcoming this great artist to America and not trying to throw them out.
“Oddly enough it didn’t really get published a lot at the time. I think a lot of people were didn’t really want to get involved in the politics of the case but after he passed away it became one of my most popular pictures because, I think, people see John Lennon as a symbol of personal freedom similar to the Statue of Liberty.”
Film critic and pop culture historian Richard Crouse shares a toast with celebrity guests and entertainment pundits every week on CTV News Channel’s all-new talk show POP LIFE.
Featuring in-depth discussion and debate on pop culture and modern life, POP LIFE features sit-down interviews with celebrities from across the entertainment world, including rock legends Sting and Meat Loaf, musicians Josh Groban and Sarah Brightman, comedian Ken Jeong, writer Fran Lebowitz, superstar jazz musician Diana Krall, stand-up comedian and CNN host W. Kamau Bell, actors Danny DeVito and Jay Baruchel, celebrity chefs Bobby Flay and Nigella Lawson, and many more.
Punk rock came roaring to life in a cramped, dingy bar on New York City’s Lower East Side called CBGB at 315 Bowery. More known for its filthy bathrooms than its drinks or food—legendary rock photographer Bob Gruen said with a laugh, “It was not a place you’d eat at.”—it is significant for its oversized influence on rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s the punk rock Cavern Club, a launching pad for new genres of music that still reverberate today. Punk scene likely would have happened without CBGB, but the grungy little club gave it a homebase.
